file-search interview questions
Top file-search frequently asked interview questions
I can't use the Windows 7 File Explorer search successfully. If I enter a search string, for instance car in the search box, I just get No files found, despite obviously having several files that match the string (blue_cars.jpg, carrot.gif) in the current folder. I have edited the search options so that both file names and contents are searched, even if they are not indexed.
What am I doing wrong here?
Source: (StackOverflow)
I'd like to search "upwards" for a file in shell script, e.g. check $PWD, then $PWD/.., then $PWD/../.., etc. until hitting the root. Before I go and roll my own, is there some builtin bash/zsh/find magic that will do this for me?
Source: (StackOverflow)
Is there a program for windows that would do a great job of searching within files?
I have a folder that I constantly need to search in for certain text, It would be nice to have a program that caches the files and searches through them quickly, and keeps its cache updated.
I spend a lot of time searching with netbeans, notepad++ and etc, the problem is this is a folder on a network, so it opens every file each time and searches.
Source: (StackOverflow)
In windows there is a pretty good search tool named Everything, which can let us search files by name. It's very fast, and easy to use.
Now I wonder if there is any similar tool in Linux? Command line or GUI are both fine, but the most important thing is fast.
Source: (StackOverflow)
I'm looking for a desktop search engine for finding images on my local hard drive with high visual similarity. I've only found paid for ones so far. It could be Linux or windows one, either would be helpful.
A Google desktop plug-in would be nice!
Source: (StackOverflow)
On windows 7 there's 'pause' and there's 'indexing speed is reduced due to user activity' but what if one wants full speed during desktop activity?
Source: (StackOverflow)
I've just discovered UltraSearch and was blown away by its file and folder search speed. It's instantaneous. And doesn't use any indexing service. It simply uses the NTFS Master File Table, which already stores all the filenames on the NTFS partition.
The question is, why isn't this capability way more popular among file managers, and Windows Explorer Search (Win+F) to begin with?
Source: (StackOverflow)
In Windows 7 it was as easy as typing in the Start menu ("Search programs" input) the name of a recently opened file.
This funcionality seems absent in Windows 10. I've checked that "Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar" is enabled - and in the File explorer, I see the file I want to open in the "Recent Files" section. But, still, it is not found when I type its name the "Search Quick access" box - as neither in the main search box, in the toolbar.
Source: (StackOverflow)
I have been searching someone else having the same issue but I couldn't find any. Here is my problem:
I'm using Windows 8 Pro with Media Center. File search screen does not close itself after I make a file search within start screen. It stuck on that screen. I can't go back to desktop, therefore, task manager is inaccessible. Only way to get out of it is to sign out. It also looks like non-operational. It doesn't give me any result at all. It's just a blank screen with "Files" title. It used to work perfectly.
Things I have done before coming here:
- Safe mode minimal boot to ensure no other 3rd party software interferes.
- sfc haven't found any inconsistencies.
- Search index has been rebuild.
- Normal boot with all 3rd party services and start-up items disabled.
- System restore to a date that I know this feature was functional.
And by the way, I have installed all updates released so far.
I strongly used file search via start menu back in Windows 7. This is an absolute game changer for me. I'm curious what causes this. I'll do a "system refresh" if I can't fix this. I'm working on it, I'll keep this thread updated should I find any fix.
First update:
I just discovered that file search screen gets stuck if it's invoked by typing query directly in start screen. It doesn't get stuck if it's invoked from win + x menu. I was able to "escape" from stuck screen with invoking it again by win + x menu. After rebuilding search index again, search suggestions started to appear again but still there is no file search functionality.
Second update:
"Results for" expression appears only for a second near to "Files" title when search is initialized.
Third update:
As a last resort, I finally tried to do a "System Refresh" which has also failed to refresh by giving an error after waiting almost 20 minutes at 99%. (Seriously?) After cold boot it began to undo changes. After changes were reverted, I boot the machine without doing anything further and bingo! Search began acting normal again. This is a totally weird solution. It obviously fixed certain system files during failed refresh, and kept those changes untouched because they were supposed to be that way at the first place. I'll keep this thread alive should anyone comes with a more logical explanation.
Forth update:
After a windows update, search functionality again stopped responding. It happened after a system update for the first time. Now I have a pretty good suspicion about system update, though I have no solid proof of its involvement with this problem.
Source: (StackOverflow)
Not sure what is causing this and was wondering if anyone else had this problem with any way to fix it? It takes about 2-5 seconds after hitting the windows key and starting to type for the search bar on the side to come up. The start menu will appear immediately and I'm running a SSD so I really don't think it is hardware. Thanks for any help in advance.
Source: (StackOverflow)
When using search files in Windows 8 (win+f) I don't get expected results. For example, I installed VLC, it's in Program Files (86) folder, and that folder is selected for indexing. Search for files (win+f) gives 0 results.
If I pin to start that exe, then it's found - but I don't want to do this, that's not the point.
Where does it search for files? Is there any way to specify search locations? It doesn't use Indexing Options settings, at least it seams so.
Also, searching from explorer window is kinda slow - I tried entering VLC.EXE in search box (when in c:\ root), and it takes some time to give correct results. It works, but it looks like it doesn't use indexing, rather scan all files/folders, which is slow.
Source: (StackOverflow)
How can I find all my video files in windows 8.1? I go into the windows 8.1 start screen and start typing "*.avi". It finds a small number of videos on my C drive. Search appears to only look on the system drive. It does not bother to search D or E where the files are actually located. Also, I don't know what file extensions I have on my machine....avi, .mov, .mp4, I can't name all the file extensions that exist for videos.
Ideally, I want:
- The ability to exclude directories from the search
- Find all videos of all types without specifying each file extension
- I'm thinking common known file extensions. Not looking at binary data or anything like that.
- Search all drives
Source: (StackOverflow)
Is there any easy way to find all files in a particular directory that have any non-ASCII (ie. Unicode) characters in the filename? I'm running Windows XP x64 SP2, NTFS filesystem.
Source: (StackOverflow)
I need to find a way to select all files that are alone in their folders, so I can cut and paste them someplace else. All respective folders are inside one main root folder. Is there a command prompt, or total commander trick for this?
Source: (StackOverflow)